Belthangady: Four friends, all diploma students of SDM College, Ujire who were earlier reported missing, have been traced in Mangalore.

It is learnt the foursome who were missing from their hostel had been to Mangalore  on October 12, the day they went missing, and then went to Mumbai  by train and later returned to Mangalore  via Goa.

The students are Udaya BC, Nuthan HC, Nitheshraj and Bopanna. It is reported that fear of reprimand had forced them to run away. It is learnt they were not only poor in studies but also faced attendance shortage.

The police who were investigating the missing case, had kept track of their mobile calls and took them to custody when they came to Mangalore.